PENN Entertainment will close its Hollywood Casino Aurora riverboat on June 10 as it prepares to open a new $360 million land-based resort in Illinois. The new Hollywood Casino Aurora is expected to open on June 24, pending final regulatory approvals. The project moves PENN’s Aurora gaming business from the Fox River to a larger site near Chicago Premium Outlets and Interstate 88.
New resort replaces riverboat casino
The riverboat casino has operated in Aurora for more than three decades. Its closure marks the end of PENN’s downtown riverboat model in the city. The new property is being developed at 2500 N. Farnsworth Avenue. It will include about 1,200 gaming positions, with high-limit slots, table games, baccarat and a sportsbook.
The move gives PENN a larger and more modern casino site. It also puts the property closer to regional traffic, shopping visitors and Interstate 88.
Hotel and dining expand the offer
The new Aurora resort will include a 226-room hotel, a full-service spa and an outdoor entertainment area. PENN is also adding a 12,000-square-foot event center for meetings, weddings and private functions.
Dining will be a major part of the project. The lineup includes Sorella by Giada, a restaurant linked to chef Giada De Laurentiis, along with other bars and food venues. The new site will also include about 1,700 parking spaces. That gives the property more space for casino visitors, hotel guests and event traffic.
PENN keeps customers in rewards network
PENN has directed customers to nearby properties during the transition. Those include the new Hollywood Casino Joliet and Ameristar East Chicago, both of which are part of the same PENN Play rewards programme.
Unused chips from the current Aurora riverboat can be cashed at the new Hollywood Casino Aurora cage until Dec. 31, 2026. The company also plans to launch a new website on June 10 with restaurant hours, menus and reservation details.
Illinois shift supports land-based casinos
Illinois changed its casino rules to allow operators to move beyond riverboat locations. That allowed projects such as the new Hollywood Casino Aurora and other land-based developments. PENN has already used that shift in Joliet, where it opened a new land-based Hollywood Casino in 2025. Aurora now becomes the next major Illinois relocation in the company’s regional casino portfolio.
